The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-20
BEFORE THE CAMERA.
How Famous Politicians Behave in the
Photograph Gallery.


the camera:
81 have posed all the members of the
Cabinet and most of the Senators and
congressman" said he. "Some of them
fall into position with all the grace of
professional actors, but the majority
give me great deal of trouble. Sena-
tor Edmunds is one of the worst SUBJ
Jects have ever had, on account of the
expression he invariably assumes at the
critical moment. He will look pleasant
while being posed, smile when told he
Is all right and beam on the black cloth
while the artist is making his prepara-
tons, but the moment the cloth is re-
moved fierce look comes into his ewes,
his muscles grow rigid and his whole
appearance is that of Sepoy about to
be fired from cannon. When requested
to take on more pleasant expression
he complies with a smile, which lasts
till the camera is again uncovered.
Then again comes that fierce "rll-die-
if-I-must" expression. l could never
catch pleasant look on his face
''Mr. Blaine is model sitter. He
falls into position gracefully and needs
little aid from the poser. He is not
easily pleased, however. He is a pho
tographic critic of the keenest kind and
can detect the slightest faults inSthe
proofs. Sometimes it has taken half
dozen sittings to satisfy him.
Senator Evarts does not look we'll
in his photographs, because he insists
on posing himself He has a large
nose, you know, and his chief anxiety
is to conceal it as much as possible.
Since generous lofty nose can not, by
any effort of art, be transformed into
delicate Grecian feature, the Senator
is never satisfied with his photographs.
Senator Sherman takes a poor
picture, because he assumes smile
which is foreign to his features. If he
would only look grim and stern, as he
does outside the photograph gallery,
his face would be impressive on paste
board, even if it could not be called
beautiful But the Senator tries to
look sweetly benignant, and the result
is an expression bordering on the
funny. This is invariably the case with
stern men who try to smile before the
camera.
Secretary Whitney has had but one
set of photographs taken since he has
been at the head of the Navy Depart
ment, aud those were for private dis
tribution. Unlike most prominent men
at the Capital, he does not care to see
his face in store windows. Curiously
enough, too, his pictures are the hand
soonest we have taken of Government
officials. He is the only instance l
know of in Washington public life of
good looks and modesty going hand in
hand.
Secretary Lamar is fond of assum-
ing poetic, ethereal expression, which
comes near to utter darkness. To
add to the impression that he is poet
far above thoughts of earth, he rum
pies his hair and lets it fall so as to
almost cover his ears. He is fond of
seeing his face on pasteboard and dis
tributes his pictures literally.
Senator Hoar takes well. He sits
lets his face resolve itself into sun
beams. He has the sweetest smile l
have ever seen on the face of public
man. He never asks for proofs, being
satisfied from experience that the cam
era does him justice because he does
justice to the camera.
Senator Sewell is rather trouble
some. He always wants the position
ist to pose him in such a way that the
little bald spot on his head can be con-
cealed. | have tried it, and in vain.
The only way it could be accomplished
would be for the Senator to place his
face horizontally to the ceiling, but
when l told him this he got angry.
Senator Fry looks in his picture
quite the heavy villain. He seems
downright blood-thirsty when he faces
the camera, and no amount of persua-
sion can soften his features. have
tried funny stories, humorous sugges-
tons and little practical jokes; but to
no purpose. He still looked as if it
was his dearest wish to be let loose
among his fellow citizens with der
ringer.
Senator Wade Hampton is particu-
lar as to one point only-his handsome
'Dundrearies. When we show him a
proof, he glances at once at his side
face adornments, seems to count all
the hairs, and if he finds one missing
he has no criticism to offer. He passes
many minutes fondly arranging his
whiskers before taking the chair.
Senator Beck takes, perhaps, the
best picture in the Senate. His face is
strong and handsome, his bearing
manly and graceful, and his iron-gray
locks are things of beauty. And isn't
ne proud of them, and dosen't he
handle them tenderly? He knows that
his photograph is something to be adj
mired, SO he does not by any means
object to having it in the windows for
sale. He gives us a call regularly every
three months.
at is pleasure to pose Mr.. Randall.